MLB Rumors

The Padres will place Everth Cabrera on the disabled list before Wednesday's game, MLB.com reports. Cabrera strained his hamstring in a stolen base attempt Sunday. It's unclear how long the speedy shortstop will be shut down, but a hamstring injury of any severity is concerning over the short and long term for any player so reliant on his speed.

The Padres will recall outfielder Jaff Decker from Triple-A Tucson on Wednesday, MLB.com reports. Decker owns a .260/.379/.398 line with five home runs in 196 at-bats at Tucson. Expect the lefty to get at-bats off the bench and perhaps some starts against right-handed pitching.

While Tigers manager Jim Leyland continues to be impressed with the play of outfielder Matt Tuiasosopo, who is batting .333 and slugging .551 through 36 games, an increase in playing time isn't in Tuiasosopo's future.

"I’m not ready to do that just yet," Leyland said, per the Detroit Free Press. "If someone doesn’t get going, then you either play (Tuiasosopo) a little bit more or do something else, and I’m not talking about anyone in particular. That’s a situation with any player."

Yankees outfielder Fernando Martinez, who was acquired in a Tuesday trade from the Astros, will report to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, according to The New York Times. Martinez has been toiling in the minors since being designated for assignment in early May.

Mariners second baseman Nick Franklin extended his hitting streak to seven games Tuesday against the Angels with a 1-for-4 performance. Franklin is batting .370 (10 for 27) with one home run, one stolen base, three doubles, three RBI, three walks and three runs in his last seven games.

Franklin's batting average has gone from .250 to .296 during his recent seven-game surge.

Red Sox outfielder Daniel Nava connected for his 10th home run in the nightcap of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Rays. It was his third home run in June.

Nava is batting .297 (19 for 64) with three doubles, eight walks, 12 RBI and 13 runs in 16 June games. 

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper will resume baseball activities within the next day or two, The Washington Post reports. Harper has been suffering from left knee bursitis since May 20.

There is still no timetable for his return to game action. He will still need a rehab assignment, so he's likely at least two weeks away from a return, if not longer.

Angels shortstop Erick Aybar collected two hits for the fourth time in six games and for the eighth time in June during Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Mariners. Aybar is batting .360 (9 for 25) in his last six games and .277 (18 for 65) in 16 June games.

Aybar also has seven RBI in his last six games after managing just two RBI in his previous 10 games.

With the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline looming, Astros starting pitcher Bud Norris admits it's hard to overlook he's a potential candidate to be traded, according to FOX Sports.

"It’s hard to talk about it, in all honesty," Norris said. "There’s a lot going on around me. I’ve seen a lot of trades in my 3 1/2 years up here. Now that my name’s the one popping up, it’s a little different feeling. At the end of the day, I need to prepare myself to pitch every five days for the team I’m on. I’ve been in Houston my entire career. All I know is pitching for this team. If it changes, it changes. But it’s not going to change my aspect of going out there and pitching."

Norris isn't a free agent until after the 2015 season, so the Astros don't have to deal him. However, he's a good pitcher with a reasonable salary and could provide a lift to a contender's rotation. 

"You have to be informed," he said. "I don’t think you want to be blindsided by it: One day, you come to the park and, boom, you’re gone. I don’t pay too much attention to it, but I’m definitely in the loop. I get tidbits here and there ... but it comes down to the front office. I have to impress somebody enough where they want to come get me."

The Nationals have reinstated second baseman Danny Espinosa from the disabled list and optioned him to Triple-A Syracuse, The Washington Times reports.

Espinosa has been at Syracuse for six games on a rehab assignment, in which he has hit a brutal .118/.238/.118. Espinosa has been dealing with a fractured right wrist for much of the season. General manager Mike Rizzo previously said Espinosa needs to "show what he's capable of," and so he'll have to start hitting at Syracuse if he is to get a chance to unseat Anthony Rendon at second base in Washington.